The Heirs

Andrew and Amara: Searching the Desert

Chapter 33:

(Andrew POV) -Kygrastonia-

I went through the Well and quickly arrived in the middle of a city in Kygrastonia. I stuck out like a sore thumb in my clothes and I knew I had to was a few stores around and I ended up finding a clothing merchant. I ended up paying way too much for the clothes when the guy started asking questions about where I was going. I changed into a long faded, white tunic and a pale brown head and face covering. I also got some fabric to tie around my horses hooves to hide our tracks. The city was on the edge of the desert and I was able to get a map of the desert and it marked out all the cities within the desert. I had to plan where I would go accordingly.

I was going to work within the biggest section of the desert first. Then I would work my way back towards the towns within the desert and try to find this abandoned house. I had to stay hidden. I didn't want anyone to be alerted by my presence. I had two weeks before I had to go back and I had to make the most of that time.

- six days later -

I had finished exploring the largest section of the desert with no luck and was making my way to the nearest town on the map. As I made my way towards the town I made sure to cover my face not sure who would recognize who I was. I made my way into town and went over to a well to fill up some of my containers. The other people who were in this village backed away from me but other than that generally ignored my existence. I walked through the small village and found a place to sleep for the night.

I would head out in the morning after finishing gathering supplies. I would have a three day journey in the next segment of desert and then two, two day journeys after that. After I would have to head home. I barely fell asleep that night, despite being exhausted and woke up as the sun rose in the morning. "I'm coming," I whispered to myself, careful not to say Amara's name in case someone was actually listening. My face was constantly covered and after taking my horse to a trough and paying the people in the village I went off again.

I began combing through the desert in a grid like pattern and was becoming more exhausted with each segment I checked. There was nothing The days quickly folded into one another and the three days had passed and I was in another village. I repeated the same pattern as before in the previous village. I got the supplies I needed, replenished my water supply and headed out again.

I was in the last segment of desert to check and as I made my way through the grids of the desert there was still nothing to find. And then I saw something. It was a house coming up not to far out. As I got closer I could see the faded white pain and the roof caving in. I began to ride faster and faster trying to get a better view. I wasn't sure if this was the house I saw in the Well all that time ago or if it was just wishful thinking. I stopped in front of the house and secured my horse to a decaying tree outside of the house. I tested the balcony before stepping onto it.

I entered the house and could see sand pouring in from all angels and sun coming in through all the holes and cracks within the walls. I made my way up some shaky stairs and started looking around the top floor. There was nothing there but some dusted over rooms that had long been abandoned. I checked the main floor and found my way to a hidden cellar.

As I made my way down the stairs more sand was on each step and soon I saw whatever used to be down here was completely buried. I tried to see if there was anything underneath, anything that could be dug up but there was nothing. It was really just an abandoned house with no trace of life and no trace of Amara.

I made my way out of the house and continued to comb my way through the rest of the grids that were left in this segment of the desert before I found myself back at the village I had arrived at. I quickly made my way through the bustling city to the Well and went back to Tangu. I rode to the palace and arrived at the gate. I asked for Uncle Zandar and they let me in. As I made my way inside I noticed that all the search parties were gone. No one was coming in and out. I made my way outside the throne room when he I saw Uncle Zandar closing the door.

I removed the fabric over my face, "Andrew? You're back." I nodded my head looking at the floor. I was so ashamed that I couldn't find her, "I'm so sorry. I tried, I couldn't find her anywhere." He put a hand on my shoulder. "Andrew, she's back. She came back last night." My eyes widened as I looked up at him, "What, where is she? I need to talk to her." I said. He sighed, "She is in the throne room, but before you talk to her..." He started but I was already rushing past him and entered the throne room. She was standing completely still and as I looked at her. Her eyes never met mine and they were hollow and had dark circles. Her clothes were hanging loosely off of her and she was completely covered from head to toe. Her skin was discolored and it looked like a small breeze could knock her over "Amara?" I asked and she looked up at me before quickly looking down. She started rubbing her hands together and from under an over-sized sleeve I could see her hand. Her left hand specifically and that's when I saw a ring, "What happened?" Uncle Zandar came over to me keeping a small distance from Amara who flinched when we got any closer, "Why don't we go to the other room and talk?"